Bucky Lasek

Skateboard and BMX Vert has been contested at X Games since day one. This year, X Games opened up the field for vert qualifying, with the top finishers grabbing invite spots to X Games Minneapolis 2017.

On August 6, eight-time X Games medalist Elliot Sloan opened his backyard playground for the first-ever Highland Showdown, featuring 24 of the top vert skaters in the world, going head to head on Sloan's vert ramp.

This Independence Day weekend, XGames.com is looking at Independent Truck Company, the iconic skateboard truck brand ridden by some of the most iconic skateboarders of all time, and the stacked team that reps the brand.